Get £50 off your October getaway with code OCTOBER50 - click here for more information
St Cuthbert's Way

St Cuthbert's Way

A self-guided walking holiday celebrating the many historic sites associated with St Cuthbert.

5 to 8 nights
64 miles
Moderate to Demanding

From £673 per person

Find your holiday

About this route

5 to 8 nights
64 miles
Moderate to Demanding
2nd January to 24th December
Includes Dog-Friendly Tours

From £673 per person

St Cuthbert's Way

Art of St Cuthbert's symbol on St Cuthbert's Way.

St Cuthbert's Way follows the story of a 7th century saint who travelled through Scotland and northern England, spreading the Gospel and performing healing miracles. Beginning at Melrose, where the saint started his ministry, and ending at Holy Island, where he ended his days, the trail passes through scenery of great variety and beauty.

The walk takes in heather-clad hills, tranquil riverbanks and old Roman roads, visiting attractive villages and border towns along the way. Particular sites of interest include the ruin of Dryburgh Abbey, Cessford Castle, St Cuthbert's Cave and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, complete with its ruined abbey and spectacular castle.

Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays St Cuthbert's Way map
Melrose to Lindisfarne
64 miles (102 km)
2nd January to 24th December

Holiday highlights

Exploring the attractive borders towns of Melrose, Bowden and Jedburgh.

Admiring far-reaching views over the border country from the slopes of the Eildon Hills.

Spending the night on the tranquil Holy Island, with its 16th century Lindisfarne Castle and Priory, home to the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
CUTH0 From Melrose to Holy Island 5 nights, 4 days walking Demanding £673
CUTH1 From Melrose to Holy Island 6 nights, 5 days walking Moderate / Demanding £881
CUTH2 From Melrose to Holy Island 7 nights, 6 days walking Moderate / Demanding £938
CUTH3 From Melrose to Holy Island 8 nights, 7 days walking Moderate £1070
"Garlic Woodland from Melrose to Harestanes" by Anne Swindell (2025) "Garlic Woodland from Melrose to Harestanes" by Anne Swindell (2025)
"Wide Open Views from Morebattle to Kirk Yetholm" by Anne Swindell (2025) "Wide Open Views from Morebattle to Kirk Yetholm" by Anne Swindell (2025)
"The Pilgrim's Route to the Island" by John Sands (2023) "The Pilgrim's Route to the Island" by John Sands (2023)
"On Holy Island" by Jim Minot (2023) "On Holy Island" by Jim Minot (2023)
"On Wideopen Hill" by Jim Minot (2023) "On Wideopen Hill" by Jim Minot (2023)
"On Holy Island" by Jim Minot (2023) "On Holy Island" by Jim Minot (2023)
"Walking along the River Tweed" by Woodie Muirhead (2022) "Walking along the River Tweed" by Woodie Muirhead (2022)
"Lindisfarne Castle" by Judy Richonne (2022) "Lindisfarne Castle" by Judy Richonne (2022)
"Lindisfarne Priory" by Judy Richonne (2022) "Lindisfarne Priory" by Judy Richonne (2022)
"Boat Shed on Lindisfarne" by Tania Rideout (2020) "Boat Shed on Lindisfarne" by Tania Rideout (2020)
"Resting at the Halfway Point" by Tania Rideout (2020) "Resting at the Halfway Point" by Tania Rideout (2020)
Wall Between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler
Wall Between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler" by Anne Swindell (2019) Wall Between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler" by Anne Swindell (2019)
"Viewpoint Between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler" by Anne Swindell (2019) "Viewpoint Between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler" by Anne Swindell (2019)
"Border Sign Between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler" by Anne Swindell (2019) "Border Sign Between Kirk Yetholm and Wooler" by Anne Swindell (2019)
"On the Holy Island" by Nicole Neal (2019) "On the Holy Island" by Nicole Neal (2019)
"From Harestanes to Morebattle" by Nicole Neal (2019) "From Harestanes to Morebattle" by Nicole Neal (2019)
"On the Holy Island" by Nicole Neal (2019) "On the Holy Island" by Nicole Neal (2019)
"From Melrose to Harestanes" by Nicole Neal (2019) "From Melrose to Harestanes" by Nicole Neal (2019)
"Melrose Abbey" by Desmond Maltby (2017) "Melrose Abbey" by Desmond Maltby (2017)
"St Cuthberts Cave" by Desmond Maltby (2017) "St Cuthberts Cave" by Desmond Maltby (2017)
"River Tweed" by Desmond Maltby (2017) "River Tweed" by Desmond Maltby (2017)
"Preparing to Cross the Border" by Sheila Maltby (2017) "Preparing to Cross the Border" by Sheila Maltby (2017)
"From Kirk Yetholm to Wooler" by Paul Brown (2017) "From Kirk Yetholm to Wooler" by Paul Brown (2017)
"From Jedburgh to Kirk Yetholm" by Paul Brown (2017) "From Jedburgh to Kirk Yetholm" by Paul Brown (2017)
"Looking down from Wideopen Hill" by Paul Brown (2017) "Looking down from Wideopen Hill" by Paul Brown (2017)
"Atop Wideopen Hill" by Paul Brown (2017) "Atop Wideopen Hill" by Paul Brown (2017)
"Cowbeg" by Contours Holidays (2016) "Cowbeg" by Contours Holidays (2016)
"Rape Fields near Cessford" by Steven McDonough (2012) "Rape Fields near Cessford" by Steven McDonough (2012)
"Jedburgh Abbey" by Contours Holidays (2016) "Jedburgh Abbey" by Contours Holidays (2016)
"Hethpool" by Contours Holidays (2016) "Hethpool" by Contours Holidays (2016)
"Descending from Weetwood Common to Weetwood Bridge" by Contours Holidays (2012) "Descending from Weetwood Common to Weetwood Bridge" by Contours Holidays (2012)

Customer reviews from the St Cuthbert's Way

“We loved the holiday. The walking is stunning and everything worked smoothly, so thank you.”
Ms Adam, UK
“We asked our B&B hosts about the companies they work with and without exception they all said that they liked dealing/working with Contours the best! I think this is a good testament to Contours.”
Mrs Swindell, UK
“We have thoroughly enjoyed walking the St Cuthbert's Way, albeit challenging at times… Highlights were staying/visiting Jedburgh, the walking territory and views on the Scottish side of the border, and of course walking across the sands following the Pilgrim route to finish at Holy Island. We chose to stay an extra day/night at Holy Island, and this was well worth it, allowing more time to visit the Priory, Castle, enjoy walking the Island, birdlife and marine life (seals!), enjoying spectacular scenery at sunset and sunrise; a memorable experience. The walk itself, and the destination did not disappoint.”
Mrs Kaill, UK
“We were lucky with the weather, and May was a great time to benefit from wild flowers in bloom and birdsong along the route. All the places we stayed were very welcoming of our dog and ourselves.”
Mrs Woods, UK
“I absolutely loved it!! It was a much needed holiday!! It was so wonderful to do this, to have everything taken care of, and all of it was wonderful, and every detail was taken care of. Thank you so much for this amazing experience!! It made so much of a huge difference to just set up the dates and select the passage, and have every detail from a place to stay Monday night till a place to stay till Monday morning. Every host was amazing. Each taxi company was wonderful, kind, warm, wonderful!! It made doing this experience on my own so wonderful and not nearly as daunting as it could have been.”
Rev Smith, UK
“Excellent holiday - many thanks for making all the arrangements, including fixing the weather!”
Dr Rampton, UK
“Very lucky with the weather given the unsettled forecast. Very well signposted for the whole of the walk. A lot more tarmac than we expected. The 2 days on the Cheviots were excellent as was the Eildon Hills.”
Mrs McDougall, UK
“We had a great time in Scotland and England along sent St Cuthbert’s Way. The tour was beautiful. The people we stayed with were very friendly and helpful and our food and rooms were spot on.”
Ms Lucas, Canada
“Brilliant shorter walk a bit of everything - hills, rivers, moors, sea, bridges, priories, villages - perfect and perfect organisation by Contours.”
Mr Brown, UK
Find your holiday